Unexpected Friendship: How Sitting Next to a Stranger Changed Everything
New York — It was just another busy day on the New York City subway when Sarah Johansson decided to take a seat next to a disheveled man, a decision that would soon teach her a profound lesson about humanity and compassion. Johansson, a 34-year-old social worker from Brooklyn, was initially hesitant to sit next to the man, who appeared to be homeless and was surrounded by several bags. Memories of cautionary tales about personal safety on public transit flitted through her mind. However, drawing upon her professional belief in embracing empathy over judgment, she … Read more